Charlemagne Connection of Dr. Leisure

As the official biographer of Dr. Leisure, also known as Dr. George R. Harker, I have been aware for some time that he was related to Betsy Ross who purportedly prepared the first flag. I did not know of the connection to Charlemagne.

Geoffrey Harker was looking into the Betsy Ross connection triggered in part by his son's birth earlier in the year. The nature of genealogical research is such that known personalities have probably already had it done. Such was the case here with Betsy Ross actually Elizabeth Griscom, born 1752 died 1836. It is actually her third husband, John Claypoole, that is the connection. Following up from Claypoole we soon connect with English Royalty and ultimately to Charlemagne himself. Below is presented the direct line from Charlemagne to Samuel Harker.

A number of things make the Charlemagne connection to Dr. Harker most interesting. Charlemagne and Harker share a number of interest and physical traits which are quite remarkable given the nature of Harker's work.

According to his friend and biographer, Einhard, Charles was of imposing stature, to which his bright eyes and long, flowing hair added more dignity. His neck was rather short, and his belly prominent, but the symmetry of his other members concealed these defects. His clear voice was not so sonorous as his gigantic frame would suggest.

The following is a chapter from Einhard biography. Not the part about the prominent belly which is definitely a trademark of Dr. Harker which he used to try and play down. Now he points to it as further evidence of the Charlemagne connection. Further down note the reference to hot spring bathing: "He used not only to invite his sons to his bath, but his nobles
and friends, and now and then a troop of his retinue or body guard, so that a hundred or more
persons sometimes bathed with him." Charlemagne also had baths created. He is also known for his efforts in education, not unlike Dr. Harker and his efforts to improve the Hawaii Department of Education.

22. Personal Appearance

Charles was large and strong, and of lofty stature, though not disproportionately tall (his height is
well known to have been seven times the length of his foot); the upper part of his head was round,
his eyes very large and animated, nose a little long, hair fair, and face laughing and merry. Thus
his appearance was always stately and dignified, whether he was standing or sitting; although his
neck was thick and somewhat short, and his belly rather prominent; but the symmetry of the rest
of his body concealed these defects. His gait was firm, his whole carriage manly, and his voice
clear, but not so strong as his size led one to expect. His health was excellent, except during the
four years preceding his death, when he was subject to frequent fevers; at the last he even limped
a little with one foot. Even in those years he consulted rather his own inclinations than the advice
of physicians, who were almost hateful to him, because they wanted him to give up roasts, to
which he was accustomed, and to eat boiled meat instead. In accordance with the national
custom, he took frequent exercise on horseback and in the chase, accomplishments in which
scarcely any people in the world can equal the Franks. He enjoyed the exhalations from natural
warm springs, and often practised swimming, in which he was such an adept that none could
surpass him; and hence it was that he built his palace at Aixla-Chapelle, and lived there constantly
during his latter years until his death. He used not only to invite his sons to his bath, but his nobles
and friends, and now and then a troop of his retinue or body guard, so that a hundred or more
persons sometimes bathed with him.

Below is the direct line decendents from Charles I, "Charlemagne" to Dr. Leisure's grandson Samuel Harker born February 6, 2004

Schroll down to find George R. Harker's grandson at the end of this bloodline which tracks to Charlemagne.

Charles I “Charlemagne”
b. 742 d. 814
“Charles the Great”
King of the Franks 768 - 814
crowned emperor of the Romans 800
Hildegarde
b. 758 d. 783

Matilda of Flanders
b. 1032 d. 1083
William “the Conqueror”
b. 1027 d. 1087
led Norman Conquest 1066
King of England, reigned 1066 - 1087

Henry I King of England
b. 1068 / 1070 d. 1135
reigned 1100 - 1135
youngest son of William the Conquerer
Matilda of Scotland
b. 1079 d. 1118

Lady Matilda “Maud” of England
b. 1102 d. 1167
Geoffrey Plantagenet
b. 1113 d. 1151

Henry II King of England
b. 1133 d. 1189
reigned 1154 - 1189
Eleanor of Aquitaine
b. 1122 d. 1204

John “Lackland” King of England
b. 1166 d. 1216
Isabella of Angouleme
b. 1188 d. 1246

Henry III King of England
b. 1207 d. 1272
reigned 1216 - 1272
Eleanor of Provence
b. 1217 d. 1291

Edward I King of England
b. June 17, 1239 d. July 7, 1307
m. 1254 at Las Huelgas
reigned November 16, 1272 - 1307
conquered Wales, warred with Scotland
Princess Eleanor of Castile
b. 1240 d. 1290
m. 1254 at Las Huelgas
daughter of King Ferdinand III\
of Castile & Leon

Princess Elizabeth (Esabel) Plantagenet
b. August 1282
m. November 14, 1302
d. May 5, 1316
Humphrey de Bohun VIII
b. 1276, m. November 14, 1302,
d. March 16, 1321 / 1322
Earl of Hereford and Essex, Contable of
England, slain at Borough Bridge

William de Bohun, Knight of the Garter
b. 1310 / 1312, m. 1335, d. September 1360
Earl of Northampton, major military figure
Hundred Years War, commanded division at
Marlaix, 1342 & Crecy, 1346
Elizabeth de Badlesmere
b. 1313, m. 1335, d. 1356
daughter of Barthlolomew de Badlesmere

Elizabeth de Bohun
b. 1350, m. September 28, 1359,
d. April 3, 1385
Richard Fitz-Alan, Knight of the Garter
b. 1346, m. September 28, 1359,
d. September 21, 1397
10th Earl of Arundel
attained and beheaded

Elizabeth Fitz-Alan
b. 1372, m. by August 19, 1401,
d. July 8, 1425
Sir Robert Goushill
b. 1350 / 1362, m. by August 19, 1401,
d. July 21, 1403
Knighted for gallantry at Battle of Shrewsburry
died shortly after

Elizabeth Goushill
b. 1401 d. 1451
Sir Robert Wingfield
b. 1403 d. 1454
Knighted by King Henry VI, 1426
M.P. Suffolk 1427 - 1439
Steward of the Duke of Norfolk

Sir Henry Wingfield
b. 1440, m. after 1480, d. May 6, 1494
Knighted at Battle of Tewksbury during War of
the Roses by King Edward IV, May 5, 1471
Governor of Orford Castle, Suffolk
Elizabeth Rokes
b. 1450, m. after 1480, d. ~ 1530

Sir Robert Wingfield
b. February 4, 1475/85/91, m. ~ 1522, d. 1575
granted Upton Manor by Henry VIII
M.P. two terms, Dukal Auditor for Charles
Brandon, Duke of Suffolk
Margery Quarles
b. 1509, m. ~ 1522, d. 1576

Sir Robert Wingfield
b. 1523, m. September 1555,
d. March 31, 1580
Knight, M.P. for Peterborough
Custodian of Windsor Castle
Elizabeth Cecil
b. 1525, m. September 1555,
d. December 6, 1611
brother was Sir William Cecil, Lord Burghley
of Queen Elizabeth’s reign

Lady Dorothy Wingfield
b. 1565, m. September 30, 1586, d. 1617/19
Adam Claypoole, Esquire
b. June 20, 1565, m. September 30, 1586,
d. 1634

Sir John Claypoole, Knight of Latham
b. April 10, 1595, m. June 8, 1622,
d. April 10, 1664
knighted by Oliver Cromwell
Mary (Marie) Angell
b. 1601, m. June 8, 1622, d. August 10, 1661

James (Sir John) Claypoole
b. October 8, 1634, m. December 12, 1657,
d. August 6, 1687
arrived with friend William Penn on “Concorde”,
October 8, 1683, Brick house No. 37 Walnut St
Helena Mercer
b. 1634, Scotland, m. December 12, 1657,
d. August 19, 1688

NATHANIAL CLAYPOOLE
b. August 4, 1672, Scotland Yard, London
m. ~ 1702
d. August 26, 1714 or before 1726
buried: Philadelphia, PA
ELIZABETH
m. ~ 1702
d. August 14, 1714

WILLIAM CLAYPOOLE
b. October 12, 1710/11, St. Marys, Maryland
m. ~1747, Burlington
d. December 16, 1799/69, Philadelphia, PA
Tanner/Currier
ELIZABETH HALL
b. October 12, 1718, PA
m. ~1747, Burlington
d. May 3, 1805, Philadelphia, PA

JOHN CLAYPOOLE
b. August 15, 1752,m. May 8, 1783,
d. August 3, 1817
Second Lieutenant at Germantown, wounded
imprisoned in Old Mill Prison
ELIZABETH GRISCOM
b. January 1, 1751/52, m. May 8, 1783,
d. January 30, 1836, Philadelphia, PA
flag maker

JANE CLAYPOOLE
b. November 13, 1792, m. July 2, 1818,
d. January 4, 1873
CALEB HARLAN CANBY
b. December 6, 1789, m. July 2, 1818,
d. 9 April, 1852

CATHERINE CANBY
b. May 16, 1819, Philadelphia, PA
m. November 9, 1843, Mulberry St. MM,
Philadelphia, PA, d. February 10, 1884,
Colora, Cecil Co., Maryland
LLOYD BALDERSTON
b. July 21, 1818, m. November 9, 1843,
d. December 17/23, 1907
1839 Journal of Western Travels
founded Colora, Maryland

GEORGE BALDERSTON
b. JUNE 2, 1846, Colora, Cecil Co., Maryland
m. December 11, 1878, Somerset, Niagra
Co., New York
d. APRIL 28, 1907, Colora, Cecil Co., Maryland
MYRA JANE ATWATER
b. December 14, 1855, Somerset, Niagra Co.,
New York, m. December 11, 1878, Somerset,
Niagra Co., New York, d. February 14, 1943,
Colora, Cecil Co., Maryland

SARAH BALDERSTON
b. September 26, 1892, Colora, Cecil Co.
Maryland, m. February 6, 1915, Chicago MH,
Chicago, Illinois, d. February 20, 1955, Santa
Fe, New Mexico
HERBERT JR. HARKER
b. June 16, 1892, Richmond, Virginia
m. February 6, 1915, Chicago MH, Chicago,
Illinois, d. April 21, 1944, Cheltenham,
Philadelphia Co. PA

WILLIAM ALFRED HARKER
b. January 20, 1916, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
m. Mobile, Alabama
d. October 1976
ELLEN FRANCIS JONES
b. 1916
Philadelphia, PA
m. Mobile, Alabama

GEORGE RANDALL HARKER
b. September 26, 1943
Red Bud, Illinois
CAROL LYNNE OSTLUND
b. December 9, 1948

GEOFFREY RANDALL HARKER
b. August 16, 1973
Carthage, Illinois
AMY LOUISE MORRELL
b. April 29, 1972
Illinois

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